(a) Effective October 23, 1992, no specific licenses will be issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section for transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms in third countries and Cuba for the exportation to Cuba of commodities produced in the authorized trade zone or for the importation of goods of Cuban origin into countries in the authorized trade zone, unless, in addition to meeting all requirements of paragraph (b), one or more of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) The contract underlying the proposed transaction was entered into prior to October 23, 1992;

(2) The transaction is for the exportation of medicine or medical supplies from a third country to Cuba, which shall not be restricted:

(i) Except to the extent such restrictions would be permitted under section 5(m) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 or section 203(b)(2) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act if the exportation were subject to these provisions;

(ii) Except in a case in which there is a reasonable likelihood that the item to be exported will be used for purposes of torture or other human rights abuses;

(iii) Except in a case in which there is a reasonable likelihood that the item to be exported will be reexported; or

(iv) Except in a case in which the item to be exported could be used in the production of any biotechnological product; and

(v) Except in a case where it is determined that the United States Government is unable to verify, by on-site inspection or other means, that the item to be exported will be used for the purpose for which it was intended and only for the use and benefit of the Cuban people, but this exception shall not apply to donations for humanitarian purposes to a nongovernmental organization in Cuba.

(3) The transaction is for the exportation of telecommunications equipment from a third country, when the equipment is determined to be necessary for efficient and adequate telecommunications service between the United States and Cuba.

(b) Specific licenses will be issued in appropriate cases for certain categories of transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms in third countries and Cuba, where local law requires, or policy in the third country favors, trade with Cuba. The categories include:

(1) Exportation to Cuba of commodities produced in the authorized trade territory, provided:

(i) The commodities to be exported are non-strategic;

(ii) United States-origin technical data (other than maintenance, repair and operations data) will not be transferred;

(iii) If any U.S.-origin parts and components are included therein, such inclusion has been authorized by the Department of Commerce;

(iv) If any U.S.-origin spares are to be reexported to Cuba in connection with a licensed transaction, such reexport has been authorized by the Department of Commerce;

(v) No U.S. dollar accounts are involved; and

(vi) Any financing or other extension of credit by a U.S.-owned or controlled firm is granted on normal short-term conditions which are appropriate for the commodity to be exported.

(2) Travel-related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and other transactions that are directly incident to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, or servicing of exports that are consistent with the licensing policy under this section.

(3) Importation of goods of Cuban origin into countries in the authorized trade territory.

Note to paragraph (b):

On October 23, 1992, sections 1705 and 1706 of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-484 (Oct. 23, 1992) (codified at 22 U.S.C. 6004 and 6005, respectively), prohibited OFAC from issuing licenses for any transaction described in this paragraph other than those transactions currently set forth in paragraph (a).

(c) The term strategic goods means any item, regardless of origin, of a type included in the Commodity Control List of the U.S. Department of Commerce (15 CFR part 399) and identified by the code letter “A” following the Export Control Commodity Numbers, or of a type the unauthorized exportation of which from the United States is prohibited by regulations issued under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, 22 U.S.C. 2778, or under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C. 2011, et seq., or successor acts restricting the export of strategic goods.

For reexportation of U.S.-origin goods, wares, or merchandise by U.S.-owned or controlled foreign firms, see § 515.533. Transactions by U.S.-owned or controlled foreign firms directly incident to the exportation of information or informational materials or the donation of food to nongovernmental entities or individuals in Cuba are exempt from the prohibitions of this part. See § 515.206. For the waiver of the prohibitions contained in § 515.207 with respect to vessels transporting shipments of goods, wares, or merchandise pursuant to this section, see § 515.550.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to implement policy changes announced by the President on December 17, 2014 to further engage and empower the Cuban people. These amendments facilitate travel to Cuba for authorized purposes, facilitate the provision by travel agents and airlines of authorized travel services and the forwarding by certain entities of authorized remittances, raise the limit on certain categories of remittances to Cuba, allow U.S. financial institutions to open correspondent accounts at Cuban financial institutions to facilitate the processing of authorized transactions, authorize certain transactions with Cuban nationals located outside of Cuba, and allow a number of other activities related to, among other areas, telecommunications, financial services, trade, and shipping. These amendments also implement certain technical and conforming changes.

This is a list of United States Code sections, Statutes at Large, Public Laws, and Presidential Documents, which provide rulemaking authority for this CFR Part.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to implement policy changes announced by the President on December 17, 2014 to further engage and empower the Cuban people. These amendments facilitate travel to Cuba for authorized purposes, facilitate the provision by travel agents and airlines of authorized travel services and the forwarding by certain entities of authorized remittances, raise the limit on certain categories of remittances to Cuba, allow U.S. financial institutions to open correspondent accounts at Cuban financial institutions to facilitate the processing of authorized transactions, authorize certain transactions with Cuban nationals located outside of Cuba, and allow a number of other activities related to, among other areas, telecommunications, financial services, trade, and shipping. These amendments also implement certain technical and conforming changes.